Sydney: Legendary golfer Greg Norman has said nothing has changed since September when he said Tiger Woods was intimidated by world no.1 Rory McIlroy. Norman has added fuel to the fire, declaring that the fallen US superstar can’t keep up with the Northern Irishman who has now got the number of Woods. Norman said he stood by his comments earlier this year that McIlroy had surpassed Woods as the alpha male in world golf.

“What I``m seeing is that Tiger is really intimidated by Rory... When have you ever seen him intimidated by another player? Never,” News.com.au quoted Norman, as saying, in an interview published in September. McIlroy finished 2012 at the top of the money list for the US and European tours as well as the world rankings after a year that netted the 23-year-old almost 11 million dollars in prize money and his second major, the US PGA.

Norman’s initial assessment sparked outrage in the US but the dual British Open champion is standing firm. “I was right. I think when you are around the game for long enough, you can tell. Players can tell,” Norman said. “We understand what the game is all about and there is always a new wave of new kids coming through who don’t have that fear factor,.

The other players do feel that. To me it was a very logical statement to make. I stand by it today,” he added. ‘’I actually think that Tiger really can’t keep up with Rory. He is trying to keep up with him (but) I think Rory has got his number,” he said.